OFFICIAL EXPLANATION



THE PROMPT


• meaning and structure
→ The sentence sets up a contrast between a Renaissance fair and a theme park.
Objects such as roller coasters and Ferris wheels should be logically compared with attractions of some other fair.

→ The use of while sets up the contrast implied by the sentence.

THE OPTIONS

• logical
→ The use of the word while sets up the contrast between the two types of attractions.
→ Renaissance fair attractions are compared to (contrasted with) roller coasters and Ferris wheels (which are the attractions at a theme park)

Try lopping off the "While" intro to see the way that "unlike" works in this sentence.
→ [U]nlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, (The Renaissance) fair’s attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England.
Question:What are unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels [that we see at modern theme parks]?
Answer: The attractions at a Renaissance fair [which are the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England].
KEEP


• illogical comparison
→ what the heck does this thing say?
-- That a Renaissance fair may look like a theme park whereas roller coasters and Ferris wheels do not look like a theme park?
-- That we should compare a Renaissance fair to roller coasters and Ferris wheels?
Whatever it says, the option is illogical.
ELIMINATE B


• unclear comparison
→ what is or are unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels?
The sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England?
→ diction error. We should use NOT or RATHER THAN instead of UNLIKE, this way:
A Renaissance fair may look like a theme park, but this fair's attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England, NOT/rather than roller coasters and Ferris wheels.
→ placing unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels at the end makes it difficult to know what these two things are being compared to.
ELIMINATE C


• can I just say "hot mess" and move on? Probably not.
• this option absurdly compares a Renaissance fair with roller coasters and Ferris wheels.
It says that a Renaissance fair is not like roller coasters and Ferris wheels.
• lacking a preposition
We need something such as " . . . AT a Renaissance fair . . . the sights, sounds, and tastes [that are] inspired by sixteenth-century England are its attractions."
ELIMINATE D. Moving right along. . .


• comparison error again
→ what is or are unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels?
→ this option appears to contrast a Renaissance Fair with roller coasters and Ferris wheels.
The meaning is absurd.
ELIMINATE E

By POE, the answer is A.


COMMENTS

parasma rubyrehal Nishman TheGraceful gmatcafe arya251294 Roshan1411 and anirudhraj welcome to SC Butler.

This question is hard.
While you should always be trying to eliminate the four worst options, that approach is indispensable in this case.

You are forced to rethink option A.
(Actually, when you do the POE, at the least, you should keep A tentatively.)
It is the only option that directly compares (contrasts) attractions with attractions.

I will award kudos for bravery and have already awarded kudos to other posts that I deleted because they were repetitive.

Stay safe, everyone.

My answer is (C). It took me 02:02.

The whole sentence is underlined. The best answer should convey its meaning in the most logical and straightforward way. If we are confused in reading any answer option, that is a sign that the sentence is poorly written.

(A) There are two clauses in this sentence: the subordinate clause starting with "while" and the main clause that follows.
Which clause should "unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels" belong to? It is not immediately clear.
We will keep (A) while searching for a better sentence.

(B) This option makes it clear that "unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels" belongs to the first clause (now an independent clause in a coordinating sentence). But "roller coasters" are definitely attractions in theme parks. Also, we cannot compare a fair with its attractions.
(B) is eliminated.

(C) Another coordinating sentence. It correctly contrast this fair's attractions with "roller coasters and Ferris wheels". It is the best sentence so far. Choose (C) over (A).

(D) Again, we cannot compare a fair with its attractions.
It is also rather awkward to write "the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England are its attractions".

(E) Again, we cannot compare a fair with its attractions.
This sentence also ends with an assertion that "a Renaissance fair at first glance may look a lot like a theme park", which is actually the perception the sentence tries to refute.

My answer is E.
This choice makes correct comparison.

Sentence structure
----While at first glance
a Renaissance fair (RF) may look
a lot like a theme park, (Dependent clause)
unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels,
this fair’s attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes
------inspired by sixteenth-century England.
Error Analysis
1. Sentence has convoluted-
Meaning Conveyed:
RF may look like theme park (ok).
Unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, this fairs's attraction.......... - roller coasters and Ferris wheels - compared with this fair attraction
Inferred meaning: RF may look like theme park but RF's attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes and not roller coasters and Ferris wheels (as in theme park)

A) While at first glance a Renaissance fair may look a lot like a theme park, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, this fair’s attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England.
- convoluted meaning

B) At first glance, a Renaissance fair may look a lot like a theme park, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels; however, this fair’s attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England.
- Incorrect comparison
- Renaissance fair compared to roller coasters and Ferris wheels
- Sentence Structure- IC ; however + IC - seems fine

C) A Renaissance fair may, at first glance, look a lot like a theme park, but this fair’s attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels.
- Conveying the clear and concise meaning
- CORRECT

D) Although it looks a lot like a theme park at first glance, a Renaissance fair, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England are its attractions.
- a Renaissance fair, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels - Incorrect Comparison
- Pronoun ambiguity (its)
- Meaning Error

E) With the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England as the fair’s attractions, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, a Renaissance fair at first glance may look a lot like a theme park
- Meaning error - contrast is missing
- RF (With the sights, sounds, and tastes) - may look like theme park
- Comparison error -unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, a Renaissance fair

While at first glance a Renaissance fair may look a lot like a theme park, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, this fair’s attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England.

A) While at first glance a Renaissance fair may look a lot like a theme park, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, this fair’s attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England. -> "unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels" is not very clear to me. I am keeping it as of now, If I get a better one. I shall drop it.

B) At first glance, a Renaissance fair may look a lot like a theme park, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels; however, this fair’s attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England. -> Renaissance fair is compared with "roller coasters and Ferris wheels". Incorrect.

C) A Renaissance fair may, at first glance, look a lot like a theme park, but this fair’s attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels. -> now attractions, the sights, sounds, and tastes, are compared with "roller coasters and Ferris wheels", which makes sense. It is better than A. Let's keep it.

D) Although it looks a lot like a theme park at first glance, a Renaissance fair, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England are its attractions. -> Same as B. Incorrect comparison.

E) With the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England as the fair’s attractions, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, a Renaissance fair at first glance may look a lot like a theme park -> Same as B. Incorrect comparison.

So, I think C.

Comparison is incorrect.
See this: unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, this fair’s attractions

Look this way:
Correct : Unlike GMAT official questions, unofficial questions are poor in quality.
Incorrect: Unlike GMAT official questions, quality of unofficial questions is poor.

Hope this helps.
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I spent 2 mins on this question but selected E. a reanalysis pointed a flaw.
concentrating on the meaning of the sentence:
there are 2 parts->
1.on first glace R fair looks like a theme park]
2.[Unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels - both are attractions of a theme park, R fair's attractions are x,y and z inspired by F

so looking at the answer choices again
While at first glance a Renaissance fair may look a lot like a theme park, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, this fair’s attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England. - While phrase modifies the comparison of Renaissance fair's attractions and theme park's attractions

At first glance, a Renaissance fair may look a lot like a theme park, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels; however, this fair’s attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England. - Illogically compares attractions with fair

A Renaissance fair may, at first glance, look a lot like a theme park, but this fair’s attractions are the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels. - ambiguity

Although it looks a lot like a theme park at first glance, a Renaissance fair, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England are its attractions. - a lot of faults

With the sights, sounds, and tastes inspired by sixteenth-century England as the fair’s attractions, unlike roller coasters and Ferris wheels, a Renaissance fair at first glance may look a lot like a theme park - wrong compare

Please let me know if my reasoning has any mistakes

The official explanation is here.
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